Published in The News
With the advent of the wheat-sowing season the miseries of the already marginalised poor growers have increased manifold. The lives of millions of poor farmers depend on the production of wheat which is a source of livelihood for them. But shockingly, the price of Diammonium Phosphate (DAP), one of the most necessary fertilisers for the crop, jumped by around Rs700 per bag from Rs2500 to Rs3200. Coupled with this burden is the steep rise of Rs5 per litre in diesel price. Diesel is needed both during ploughing and for irrigation. The increase in the prices of these two will affect the small farmers badly. On these two heads, the growers will have to bear a cumulative burden of Rs24 billion.
It is believed that the increase in the price of DAP is the outcome of the cartelisation of fertiliser importers. It is true that a hike has been observed in the price of the said fertiliser in the international market, yet this can’t serve as a pretext for the almost 20 per cent increase in its price in the domestic market. Firstly, the surge in its price in international market was minimal and secondly no fertiliser has been imported during this hike. Therefore the government should compel DAP importers to make possible its availability on a fair price.
The News.
Saturday, November 13, 2010.
http://www.thenews.com.pk/12-11-2010/newspost/15213.htm
With the advent of the wheat-sowing season the miseries of the already marginalised poor growers have increased manifold. The lives of millions of poor farmers depend on the production of wheat which is a source of livelihood for them. But shockingly, the price of Diammonium Phosphate (DAP), one of the most necessary fertilisers for the crop, jumped by around Rs700 per bag from Rs2500 to Rs3200. Coupled with this burden is the steep rise of Rs5 per litre in diesel price. Diesel is needed both during ploughing and for irrigation. The increase in the prices of these two will affect the small farmers badly. On these two heads, the growers will have to bear a cumulative burden of Rs24 billion.
It is believed that the increase in the price of DAP is the outcome of the cartelisation of fertiliser importers. It is true that a hike has been observed in the price of the said fertiliser in the international market, yet this can’t serve as a pretext for the almost 20 per cent increase in its price in the domestic market. Firstly, the surge in its price in international market was minimal and secondly no fertiliser has been imported during this hike. Therefore the government should compel DAP importers to make possible its availability on a fair price.
The News.
Saturday, November 13, 2010.
http://www.thenews.com.pk/12-11-2010/newspost/15213.htm
